Despite modest economic development in 2013, all Bosch business sectors contributed to the regional result.

The company’s Automotive Technology sector, which accounts for more than 70 percent of its North American sales, increased its revenues to $7.3 billion. (Bosch said that due to a change in accounting policies, 2013 figures can only be compared to a limited extent with 2012 figures.)

“The North American team’s solid performance in 2013, particularly in the Automotive Technology sector, illustrates the competitiveness of our ‘Invented for Life’ technologies and services,” said Robert Bosch President Mike Mansuetti. “We aim to strengthen Bosch’s position in the world’s largest economy. With solid GDP development and our steadfast focus on innovation and operational excellence, we expect the North American region to yield even higher growth in 2014 compared to the prior year,”

Bosch also bolstered its North American workforce by 7 percent to more than 24,600 last year. Bosch defines North America as the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The increase results from a full-year effect of acquired businesses, including integration of the Service Solutions business of SPX Corp., coupled with a 22-percent increase in the number of associates in Mexico. The Bosch Service Network of automotive repair shops expanded to 2,100 locations in the region in 2013.

In 2013, Bosch’s North American investments totaled $317 million, following a six-year high level of investment in 2012. In 2013, the company completed its investment in a production line for common rail injector nozzles in Charleston, S.C., and started production of clean diesel emission systems at its expanded Kentwood, Mich., facility and high efficiency, brushless DC-motors for engine cooling in Toluca, Mexico.

Between 2013 and 2020, Bosch is investing more than $460 million in production lines in its Juarez and Toluca plants in Mexico, enabling the company to meet growing demand for high-tech automotive products in North and South America.

“Over the past 10 years, the company has invested nearly $5 billion in the Americas. This investment will help the company achieve its plan to double sales in North and South America in the upcoming years. We consider the Americas, in particular North America, as a reliable pillar in terms of growth and innovation,” said Werner Struth, chairman of Robert Bosch.